Remember that old Christmas legend that animals gain the
ability to talk on Christmas Eve? It once was one of the standard magical
stories that permeates religion. Although many people remember this fairy
tale, it is one more superstition that has been abandoned because of the
advance of logic. Although most animals can grunt, moo, cluck, and screech,
only one species of animal can talk - and that animal is Homo Sapiens.
Our language is an important tool to organize information, exchange abstract
ideas, and simply figure out who we are and where we came from. Language
allows us to reason our way out from the Twilight Zone of magic and superstition.

Although we cant talk to the animals, we can learn
a lot about ourselves by examining other species. Compare human behavior
to cattle, for example. Bulls do not tolerate other bulls. Put two of
them together and they fight. Their DNA determines this intolerant behavior
which is common to male animals of most species. Even social animals such
as wolves, elephants, and our brothers, the chimpanzees, have issues when
it comes to restraining anti-social behavior.

Homo Sapiens males differ noticeably from other species
on this point. Put two men together who dont know each other and
they will buy each other drinks, tell a few stories, and part as friends.
The concept of brotherhood is a human genetic trait. Peace
on earth. Homo Sapiens males prefer to get along.

Most species that rely on living in groups as a survival
advantage have a dominance hierarchy. Chickens dominance hierarchy
gave name to pecking order. They dont tolerate each
other very well, tormenting their inferiors mercilessly. Gorillas, orangutans
and chimpanzees live in social groups that have a loose knit male hierarchy
based on aggressiveness and strength. Great apes understand their place
in their social structure, knowing who they can bully and when they must
kowtow. The submissive gene appears to be favored by evolution
in all the species of great apes, but it takes an interesting twist in
Homo Sapiens.

While Homo Sapiens males have a hierarchy, dominance is
not established by abuse. Abusive behavior in our species is considered
abnormal and is punished rather than rewarded. No one is less respected
than a bully. Conversely, the most powerful males are referred to in terms
of father and display dominance by being, you know, fatherly.
When Ted Turner gave a billion dollars to the United Nations, he displayed
dominance. When Andrew Carnegie wanted to mark his territory, he built
libraries. Goodwill toward man.

It would go without saying that feasting is an important
part of social interaction, unless you were talking about dogs. Not only
do dogs lack table manners, but they are absolutely churlish if expected
to share meat. Homo Sapiens not only share meat with family and friends,
but are gratified if they can feed strangers and even members of other
species.

This obvious genetic trait is not often discussed by social scientists,
but I believe it might have been an evolutionary turning point for our
species. A good host provides food, shelter, and comfort to his guests,
then gains status in exchange.

While dark winter nights are a time for huddling around
the Yule log and telling ghost stories, how much more fascinating is the
contemplation of a rational world. Instead of the traditional nativity
of a demi-god descended from heaven, how much more intriguing is the nativity
of our earliest almost-human ancestors. Did Australopithecus, who descended
from the trees to walk upright, already have the evolutionary edge that
comes from cooperation and melioration? When and why did communication
become symbolic instead of reaction to stimuli, and what does it have
to do with sharing food?

Religion is about belief in irrational legends. It does
nothing to explain who we are or what we are capable of accomplishing.
Not only are we the only animal that can talk, we are the only animal
that strives for peace on earth, goodwill to man. That trait is in our
genes.